Pullman Surprise

The only other time that I remember seeing one of the blue Pullmans was when the South Wales Pullman turned up at Aintree with a Grand National day special, on 27/3/65. As can be seen, the drivers of the blue Pullmans wore white coats. Its design was certainly very modern at the time, although I was a bit disappointed that a diesel unit adorned the front cover of my summer 1962 combined volume. I was obviously sufficiently impressed by its arrival, however, to devote a photograph to it.

In this view, race-goers were still streaming from another special train that had set down its passengers at a more westerly platform. The station was a hive of activity on this day. All the other special trains were locomotive-hauled and most of those arrived behind steam.  Having shed the punters, they quickly vacated the platforms to allow access for following special trains. Locomotives stabled their stock in nearby sidings and then went off to Aintree sheds, or elsewhere, for servicing.